Multiple toggle switch



Patented Jan. 1, 1963 3,071,658 MULTIPLE TOGGLE SWITCH Philip C.Demarest, Pine Brook, N.J., assignor to Ohmega Laboratories, Pine Brook,N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 789,2794 Claims. (Cl. 2005) This invention relates to improvements in switchesand particularly to a multiple toggle switch having a variety of usesincluding for example use in circuits requiring a multiple number ofswitches for control purposes.

A switch constructed in accordance with the instant invention may beprovided in controller circuits where a combination or multiple numberof switches are necessary for the control of several related circuitsand particularly where simultaneous or sequential control is necessaryfor multiple circuits.

Switches are oftentimes provided in groups of ten. These switches havingmultiples of ten sets of individual switches are very often referred toas decade switches. The instant invention has for one of its purposesthe provision of a novel form of compact decade switch having readilyavailable parts which can be easilyassembled and which is adapted to beused in compact installations for extended periods without failure.

Knife blade type decade or multiple position switches are used on thetuning apparatus of television sets, and comprise wipers and the like.Such switches often become aitected by moisture and dust unless enclosedin special cases. The many contacts and connections involved requireseparable case parts as well as other removable or detachable structurefor holding the parts together. This not only increases the initial costof the switches but also the maintenance and inspection costs.Accordingly another object of the instant invention is to provide amultiple switch and operating mechanism therefor whereby the switchcontacts or equivalent structure are 'fully enclosed at all timeswithout requiring any special case for enclosing the whole decade unit.With the structure of this invention connection and disconnection of theswitches as well as inspection and testing is facilitated.

Another object of the instant invention to provide a multiple switchsuch as a decade switch as illustrated in the embodiment disclosedherein wherein it is possible to use switch operating mechanisms in sucha manner that a greater number of switch operations can be performedthan there are switch mechanisms involved, yet independent switch unitscan be used. For example, in the illustrated embodiment disclosed hereina decade switch is provided but only five toggle type switches are usedwhich would not be possible with the usual switch.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a switchmechanism of the decade type formed of readily available self-containedswitch elements which can be assembled in many different arrangements toefiect different switching sequences.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a decadetype switch having a rotatable operator wherein the individual switch orcontact elements are sequentially operable but the sequence is notgoverned by the relative positions of the elements concentric of theoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanismconstructed of a number of independent switching devices independentlyoperable and a control means associated therewith for controlling theoperation of the switch mechanism as desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a switchcontrol-operator structure whereby the switch operation can be alteredby a simple, readily accomplishable, change of the operator structure.Thus a different switch operation sequence, or a changed operative orinoperative time, for the switches or any of them can be easilyachieved.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a simple camstructure adaptable for use with a multiple number of toggle switchesfor controlling the latter in a sequential operation.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of the cam structureas part of a simple dial mechanism usable in visually determining theoperation of the switch.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a switchmechanism involving very few parts which can be readily assembled, whichis compact, which is not subject to rapid deterioration, and which canbe altered readily so as, for example, to add additional functions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with theinvention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings:

The switch mechanism constructed in accordance with the inventioncomprises a post 10 which may be of cylindrical shape. The post has alower surface 12 and a ledge 14. A mounting plate 16 is supported onpost ledge 14. .The mounting plate can be attached to the post by anysuitable type of fastening means such as screws, rivets or the like. Inthe illustrated embodiment the post 10 is provided with a concentricprojection 18 extending upwardly from the ledge 14 to form a peripheralshoulder 20. The plate 16 has a central opening 22 fitting onto theshoulder 20 in such a manner as to fix the position of the platelaterally of the post 10. It will be understood that the projection 18may be cylindrical or square, or of any other configuration, and thatthe opening 22 may be formed accordingly.

An operating shaft 24 is rotatably supported in an opening 26 extendingthrough the post 10 and projection 18. The shaft has a peripheral slotor channel 28. A set screw 30, supported in the post 10, is adapted tobe moved radially into channel 28 to prevent undesired Withdrawal of theshaft.

A control dial 32 has a central hub 34 provided with a longitudinal bore36 which receives the shaft 24. Another set screw 38 secures the dial tothe shaft and prevents relative rotational or sliding movement of thedial with respect to the shaft. The shaft and dial may, however, beeasily rotated by hand through manipulation of the hub 34 since theshaft is free to rotate in opening 26.

A dial position detent means is provided to maintain the dial inselected positions corresponding to the desired switch condition. Thedetent means comprises a leaf spring 40 which is supported in a slottedpost 42 mounted on the plate 16. The leaf spring extends tangentially ofthe dial and has a notch portion 45 which resiliently bears against theperiphery 44 of the dial 32. A series of indentations 46 are provided atintervals along the periphery of the dial, and are adapted to cooperatewith the notch portion 45 of the leaf spring 40. Obviously other formsof detent means may be employed if desired other than the detentspecifically shown in the drawings.

A series of lever operated switches 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 are secured onthe bottom of plate 16 by screws 59. For illustrative purposes, toggleswitches have been utilized each having a toggle 60. The plate 16 is provided with slots 62 through which the toggles project. The togglesextend above the plate and the slots are elongated in order that thetoggles may be moved back and forth to operate the switches.

In the instant embodiment of the invention the switches 50, 52, 54 and56 are arranged in a common are concentrio with respect to the axis 64of the plate and dial: 32. However, the switch 58 is positioned at adifferent radius from the axis 64. The toggles are all substantiallyradially movable with respect to the latter axis.

The dial 32 has a pair of cam tracks 66 and 68 formed in its lower side.With the dial in the position of relative rotation illustrated in FIGURE2 the toggle operating levers of switches 50, 52, 54 and 56 are receivedwithin track 66, but the lever of switch 58 is received within cam track68. The cam tracks illustrated are designed to provide one selectedsequential operation of the switches. It is to be understood thatdifferent tracks and a different positioning of any of the switches willprovide other switch operations.

The cam track 66 and the switches 52 through 56 are arranged so thatthese switches are Off throughout most of the travel of the cam. The camtrack 66 further has a pair of lobes 70 and 72 which, as they arebrought into alignment with the respective toggle of switches 50, 52, 54and 56 will actuate the respective switch to On.

Track 68 likewise has a lobe 74 which will snap the toggle of switch 58to On. Switch 58 is Off throughout the rest of the track 68. The lobe 74extends for a substantial distance as compared to the lobes 70 and 72,covering in fact, an angle ofapproximately 150 whereas the lobes 70 and72 cover only a relatively few degrees.

With the construction shown the lobe 70 will turn the switches 50through 56 on and off successively. Switch 50 will be switched off asdail 32 is rotated clockwise from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1.Then switch 52 is turned on as switch 50 is turned off. Thereafterswitch 54 is turned on as switch 52 is turned off. Finally switch 56turns on as switch 54 is turned off. When switch 56 is subsequentlyturned off the cam lobe 74 on track 68 will turn switch 58 on if therotation of dial 32 iscontinued; Lobe 74 will as indicated abovemaintain switch 58 on while the dial is rotated through a substantialarc. During the time switch 58 is maintained on, lobe 72 will, withcontinued clockwise rotation, successively contact switches 50, 52, 54and 56, and successively turn them on and off in the same manner inwhich lobe 70 functions.

The detent means described above comprises ten indents 46 and functionsto releasably lock the dial in the ten separate positions of' relativerotation corresponding to the ten switch conditions which can beachieved as described above.

The present invention therefore provides structure whereby it ispossible to provide a decade switch using only five switches. This isaccomplished by the unique and novel arrangement of the switches and camtracks. According to this invention all of the switches are off in oneposition of the dial. However, with this construction, provision is madefor operation of each of the four switches 50, 52 54 and 56 by one trackin successive order prior to operation of the fifth switch 58, and thenprovides for reoperation consecutively of the first. four switches inorder, while the fifth switch is operated and before the latter isturned off.

It will be understood that a number of different arrangements ofswitches and cam tracks is possible. The dial and its connected cams canbe easily removed from shaft 24 and different operation achieved bysubstituting a dial having different cams and indents. Further, it ispossible with the present invention to alter the position of theswitches or attach new switches to plate 16 providing a variety ofdifferent arrangements. In addition, double throw switches and multiplepole switches and slide, snap and toggle switches can be used as well assingle pole and single throw switches.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in formand details of construction may be made, without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple toggle switch mechanism comprising a plurality ofindependent self-contained toggle switching units, a rotatable operatorfor sequentially operating the switch units, and a dial position detentmeans for maintaining the operator in selected position corresponding tothe desired switch condition, said detent means comprising a leaf springsupported in a slotted post mounted on the plate, said leaf springhaving a notch portion resiliently bearing against the periphery of theoperator, said operator having a series of indentations adapted tocooperate with the notch portion of the leaf spring, said rotatableoperator being interchangeable, some of said plurality of switch unitsbeing arranged in a common are and the remainder being positioned in anare having a different radius, said operator having a pair of cam tracksformed in its lower side, said cam tracks comprising grooves which aresubstantially uniform in depth throughout their paths and have lobes atselected portions of the tracks for operating the toggle switches, eachtrack being adapted to operate a plurality of switches in sequence, saidcam structure being a part of a simple dial mechanism usable in visuallydetermining the operation of the multiple switch, said switch mechanismcomprising a post for mounting said switch elements and operator infixed axially disposed relationship whereby the toggle operating leversof the toggle switches are received within the cam tracks.

2. A switch mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the tracks are continuousclosed loops disposed one within the other.

3. A switch mechanism as in claim 2 wherein portions of the tracks arecommon to each other.

4. A switchmechanism as in claim 2 wherein the remainder of the switchunits comprises a single switch unit controlled by one of the saidtracks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,814,757 Lucas July 14, 1931 2,203,236 Randolph June 4, 1936 2,643,346Rady June 23, 1953 2,647,962 Batcheller Aug. 4, 1953 2,798,124 SharbaughJuly 2, 1957 2,906,832 Foster et al. Sept. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS684,353 Germany Nov. 27, 1939

1. A MULTIPLE TOGGLE SWITCH MECHANISM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OFINDEPENDENT SELF-CONTAINED TOGGLE SWITCHING UNITS, A ROTATABLE OPERATORFOR SEQUENTIALLY OPERATING THE SWITCH UNITS, AND A DIAL POSITION DETENTMEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE OPERATOR IN SELECTED POSITION CORRESPONDING TOTHE DESIRED SWITCH CONDITION, SAID DETENT MEANS COMPRISING A LEAF SPRINGSUPPORTED IN A SLOTTED POST MOUNTED ON THE PLATE, SAID LEAF SPRINGHAVING A NOTCH PORTION RESILIENTLY BEARING AGAINST THE PERIPHERY OF THEOPERATOR, SAID OPERATOR HAVING A SERIES OF INDENTATIONS ADAPTED TOCOOPERATE WITH THE NOTCH PORTION OF THE LEAF SPRING, SAID ROTATABLEOPERATOR BEING INTERCHANGEABLE, SOME OF SAID PLURALITY OF SWITCH UNITSBEING ARRANGED IN A COMMON ARC AND THE REMAINDER BEING POSITIONED IN ANARC HAVING A DIFFERENT RADIUS, SAID OPERATOR HAVING A PAIR OF CAM TRACKSFORMED IN ITS LOWER SIDE, SAID CAM TRACKS COMPRISING GROOVES WHICH ARESUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM IN DEPTH THROUGHOUT THEIR PATHS AND HAVE LOBES ATSELECTED PORTIONS OF THE TRACKS FOR OPERATING THE TOGGLE SWITCHES, EACHTRACK BEING ADAPTED TO OPERATE A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES IN SEQUENCE, SAIDCAM STRUCTURE BEING A PART OF A SIMPLE DIAL MECHANISM USABLE IN VISUALLYDETERMINING THE OPERATION OF THE MULTIPLE SWITCH, SAID SWITCH MECHANISMCOMPRISING A POST FOR MOUNTING SAID SWITCH ELEMENTS AND OPERATOR INFIXED AXIALLY DISPOSED RELATIONSHIP WHEREBY THE TOGGLE OPERATING LEVERSOF THE TOGGLE SWITCHES ARE RECEIVED WITHIN THE CAM TRACKS.